Sunday, March 31, 2013

To promote the release of the Friends & Lovers Trilogy, I am giving away a Nook, an autographed skin for the Nook, and an autographed paperback of Friends & Lovers. Enter through the Rafflecopter, and earn more chances to win by following everyone who is participating in the promo on Twitter!

Friends & Lovers is Make it Last, I Choose You, and Trust in Me, and includes a bonus ending for each couple.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Today I am giving you another teaser from Indelible, my previously untitled WIP.

We are still in Judd's POV and this is the second meeting of him and Sam. This is a first draft and unedited, but I would love to hear what you think so far. (Sorry Krystal, I try to keep them short, but sometimes I just can't! :))

Sam looked up and I saw the momentary confusion cross her face, before
she recognized me from the bar. She schooled her features, so I couldn’t tell
whether she was happy to see me or not.

“Hey,” she responded. Didn’t even crack a smile.

Not a good sign.

I pointed at the empty chair across from her.

“Do you mind if I sit?”

Sam shrugged a bit, I figured that was the best response I was going to
get from her, so I took it.

I sat down and tried an open and friendly smile. Something to say,”Hey,
I’m a good guy.” Which, of course, I’m not.

When she still didn’t say anything, I cleared my throat a bit and took
an encouraging sip of my coffee, before trying again.

“So, I hope you weren’t offendedthe
other night,” I began.

She looked at me blankly, so I continued, “You know… when James said
that I’d been asking about you… You seemed to get mad, then left. I just wanted
you to know that there was no hidden agenda on my part, I just thought you were
hot and wanted to get to know more about you.”

Her cheeks turned pink at that, which I thought was hot as hell, and
she finally responded.

“I wasn’t offended,” She said, cheeks still flushed. “I just wished
that I’d heard that from you instead of James. At the time, it seemed like you
were playing a game, and I don’t do games.”

I grinned, because I really liked her candor. In fact, I hadn’t seen
anything about her to date that I didn’t like.

“I can appreciate that,” I replied. I didn’t like games either. “What
do you say we start over?”

She smiled at that, finally, and I felt like I’d won a prize.

“Okay.”

I held my hand out over the table.

“Hi, I’m Judd.”

“Sam,” she replied simply.

“I think you’re hot, Sam,” I said honestly. “I’m not looking for a serious
relationship, but I’d like to get to know you better. If that works for you,
I’d love to take you out Friday night.”

She laughed and nodded slightly before responding.

“Luckily, I’m not looking for a serious relationship either, and I
think you’re pretty hot yourself,” I couldn’t stop the shit-eating grin that
spread across my face at that. “Let me see what I’ve got going on this weekend,
and I’ll get back to you.”

“Okay, can I get your number?” I asked, reaching for my phone.

She shook her head and I looked at her, the confusion apparent on my
face.

“I’m not ready to give you my number just yet, but I’ll be here again
on Wednesday morning, I’ll let you know then.”

That said, she stood, smiling saucily as she gathered her things and
walked towards the door.

1. When you think of your favorite books, what is it that draws you to them and makes you want to read them over and over again?

~~ Oh man, I’m such a sucker for a great toe curling romance. I mean I love the ones where one of the characters is flawed in some way, and the other one swoops in and rocks the other’s world. But I also love it when the female characters are strong and self-sufficient too, and not simply waiting for a man to come in and save her.

2. Did you consciously decide to write the genre you write, or did it choose you?

~~ That’s an interesting question. When I first started writing, I wasn’t quite sure about the direction I wanted to take, other than romance. My daughter was in high school and enjoyed reading, but hated all the vampire and werewolf books (can you imagine, haha). So I decided on going the YA/NA route because of her, but I did the paranormal thing with a sci-fi twist. When I wrote my 3rd Guardians of Vesturon book, I introduced a character that almost stole the show and I knew I needed to write his story. He, however, was too old and completely inappropriate for YA/NA, so that was my first venture into the adult romance genre. After that book, I decided to venture into adult contemporary romance and since then I’ve written Edge of Disaster and Shattered Edge and I just completed Desperate Lengths, which will be published in April. I’m also working on my 4th and last Guardians of Vesturon book, which I hope to have out by June.

3. If you could sit down for a drink and a chat with any writer, who would it be, and why?

~~I would absolutely LOVE to get together with Michelle Leighton (I love you Michelle!), Samantha Young and Alice Clayton all at the same time. Even though I talk with Michelle and see her, I’ve never met Samantha or Alice and I admire all three of those talented women SO much. Since I’m focusing on adult contemporary romance right now, I would love to be a sponge and learn everything they could teach me about their sexy love scenes!

Another couple of women I would LOVE to get together with are Lila Felix and Shelly Crane. I also admire them for their amazing talent and brilliant works and would love to be a sponge around them too!

4. When you are not writing (or reading) what is your favorite pastime?

~~Is eating a pastime? Just kidding! I love to hike and snow ski, although after this past injury I’m not sure about the last one. I’ve decided I need to become a gymnast because doing the splits on skis is hazardous to your health! I also enjoy cooking (so the eating thing really wasn’t a joke, LOL...and shopping of course!

5. At what point were you sure that your book was ready to be published, and how did you go about making it happen?

~~I don’t think I’m sure yet! For me it was a matter of typing the words, “The End,” and then finding an editor. Seriously! And then, I knew I was going to self publish, so I spent hours on the internet and ended up buying H.P Mallory’s book and followed her recommendations. I also used Smashword’s recommendations. I totally did everything backwards though. I put my book up for sale and THEN I joined Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads,etc. What a dummy I was. I was completely clueless on all this stuff. At the beginning though, you feel as though your brain is getting bombarded by so much information that you don’t know what’s important and what’s not. It was overwhelming. I did what I could and then hoped for the best. I’m still trying to juggle it all and I never know what works and what doesn’t. It’s a massive puzzle to me! I think it would be totally awesome if there were a way for someone to tell me, “Annie, this is what you need to do. One, do this. Two, do that. And so on.” That is exactly what I need! One thing I do know is that now there is not enough time in the day to accomplish everything that I need to get done.

Thanks SO much Bethany for inviting me to drop by today. It’s been fun chatting with you!

Friday, March 29, 2013

Blue Echohawk doesn't
know who she is.She doesn't know her
real name or when she was born.Abandoned at two and raised by a drifter, she didn't attend school until
she was ten years old.At nineteen, when
most kids her age are attending college or moving on in life, she is just a
senior in high school.With no mother,
no father, no faith, and no future, Blue Echohawk is a difficult student, to
say the least. Tough, hard and overtly sexy, she is the complete opposite of
the young British teacher who decides he is up for the challenge, and takes the
troublemaker under his wing.

This is the story of
a nobody who becomes somebody.It is the
story of an unlikely friendship, where hope fosters healing and redemption
becomes love.But falling in love can be
hard when you don't know who you are.Falling in love with someone who knows exactly who they are and exactly
why they can't love you back might be impossible.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

1) When you think of your favorite books, what is it that draws you to them and makes you want to read them over and over again?

Heart and soul. You can tell when someone has sweat blood into their stories, and someone who is just writing to try and gain a quick buck. Character development is huge. If I don’t care about the characters, I don’t care about what happens to them. I also like authors who don’t rely solely on romance to sell a story. There are other aspects that are equally important in a well rounded novel. Depth can make or break a book for me. Life is a balance between sacrifice and love. As a reader, I think it’s important for the author to make me question why I feel the things I feel. If a book makes me cry (in a negative or a positive light), you can bet I’ll read it again. I’ll also reread something if it makes me laugh. Humor is a must have.

2) Did you consciously decide to write the genre you write, or did it choose you?

Considering I’m eternally twelve years old and still laugh at childish and inappropriate things I’d say YA is my perfect match. I’m completely juvenile. We were just meant to be, like sweatpants and Sundays.

3) If you could sit down for a drink and a chat with any writer, who would it be, and why?

Dr. Seuss, because I think it would be a hoot to have an entire conversation that rhymes. “Would you like a shot of booze? Would you like to dance, then snooze? Would you like a glass of rum? Would you like your teeth to go numb?” Or Victor Hugo, because the heart he brought to his stories…I only dream of accomplishing the soul he put into his characters. And I won’t name names, but I can also think of a certain mainstream YA supernatural writer I’d like to sit down and smack with a newspaper and tell her, “No. That’s a bad author. Stop. Just stop.” I might get arrested for assault, but it would be worth it. I dislike poor quality writing being recognized over some of the incredible talent I’ve seen that goes virtually unnoticed. I know so many talented indie authors. I will always support indie over mainstream. Always.

4) When you are not writing (or reading) what is your favorite pastime?

I like to sing Broadway musicals in the shower. Does that count as a pastime? My current obsession is Les Misérables. Thank you, Victor Hugo. I was also singing RENT with one of my coworkers in surgery earlier today. The dog that was waking up from anesthesia looked at us like we were nuts. There’s just something about musicals that jacks me up.

5) At what point were you sure that your book was ready to be published, and how did you go about making it happen?

I edited to the point of exhaustion. Honestly, I was never ready. I just had to shut my neurotic brain up and completely clear my mind of my fears of sharing my writing in the public eye. I was like, “You’ve jumped out of a plane, but you can’t publish your books? Girl, you’ve got to chill. There are people out there fighting for your country, risking their lives every day. This is NOT that scary. Stop being a wussy and just go for it.” I give myself very rousing pep-talks. It’s an advantage of growing up as an only child. I entertained myself, which ironically helps me as a writer.

1. When you think of your favorite books, what is it that draws you to them and makes you want to read them over and over again?

There is just something about my favorite books that draws me into them and keeps my interest. I love Stephen King, Anne Rice, VC Andrews and so many of the old school authors because there was a hook at the beginning and before you knew it, they had you.

Two of my favorite novels of all time The Dome and The Stand (Unabridged version) both by Stephen King. Both started out simple enough but throughout the novel, King had a way of drawing you into his world and bonding you with his characters and making them feel very real like they were your next-door neighbors.

2. Did you consciously decide to write the genre you write, or did it choose you?

My genre chose me. Never in a million years did I think I would write romance but I started out in paranormal romance and then this was followed by contemporary romance with strong female themes and also romance known as New Adult.

Even though I write romance, I still try to challenge the reader and I have to work on that. I would like to be a more emotional writer and less intellectual writer. With Only Love, I think I balanced this but I still have a way to go and improve on my craft. I never want to stop learning!

3. If you could sit down for a drink and a chat with any writer, who would it be, and why?

Without a doubt, Stephen King. I think he is absolutely brilliant and he would be the only reason I would ever want to live in Maine. I really do respect he has a career that spans longer than my lifetime and although I would be the first to tell you I couldn’t read him when I was younger, I love his books now. It would be an evening of seafood and picking his brain about what makes his tick!

4. When you are not writing (or reading) what is your favorite pastime?

My favorite past time is traveling. I love to see new places and visit new countries. So far, I have been to Canada, England, Scotland, France, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, the and the Netherlands. I have a friend who lives in both Denmark and Norway so I would love to go see her and France is, by far, one of my most favorite countries on earth!

5. At what point were you sure that your book was ready to be published, and how did you go about making it happen?

I have been self publishing for almost two years so when my first book came out, it was not ready for prime time. It wasn’t until I released my first book after this one (a paranormal romance that morphed from Death Wish to Mortal Death), I met a competent editor. We get one another and usually the process is plow through the novel, proofread and self-edit and then send it to my editor where it goes through three rounds of editing before it is uploaded.

I want people to enjoy my novels and focus on the plot, not the typos and awkward sentences.

Only Love Blurb

After an explosive secret is revealed, Deirdreleaves her life in Seattle behind and starts anew in La Jolla. However, shedidn't anticipate having the dashing "sex on a stick" neighbor in theform of Drake O'Connell. He's sexy, self-depreciating and a chef for one of themost popular restaurants in the city.

However everyone has secrets and as Deidre and Drakebecome closer, her old life catches up with her. Soon, Colin, her formerfiancé, is living in the same city and pushing Deirdre to make a decision.While she finds herself falling for Drake yet still not letting go of what sheand Colin had together, she must come to her own conclusions and in the end,someone will get hurt in the process.

When life is love and love is pain, and the wholeworld is various shades of gray, Deirdre gains strength in realizing she mustdo what is right for her and the future she desperately wants while trying tocome to terms with a past she would rather forget.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

1. When you think of your favorite books, what is it that draws you to them and makes you want to read them over and over again?

The adventure, the fantasy, the romance. Falling in love with the characters and watching them fall in love again and again.

2. Did you consciously decide to write the genre you write, or did it choose you?

It definitely chose me. I started out just wanting to do a plain old epic fantasy, and it turned out to be more of a romance with fantastical elements. The characters really drove it in that direction.

3. If you could sit down for a drink and a chat with any writer, who would it be, and why?

Well, she's unfortunately no longer alive, but definitely Marion Zimmer Bradley. Her books were my teen years. I inhaled everything by her. I would just want to listen to her talk about her characters, her research...I would be in geek heaven!

4. When you are not writing (or reading) what is your favorite pastime?

Does running through the woods and fields count? 'Cause I'm all about doing that when the weather is nice.

5. At what point were you sure that your book was ready to be published, and how did you go about making it happen?

It took a very long time with the first book. This story had been in my head since I was 12 and it took till I was 28 before I could really work on fleshing it out, and actually giving it to beta readers and editors. After I got a positive response on it, I spoke to other self published authors after I read some amazing self pubbed ones, and they pointed me in the right direction. It was a lot of hard work, but every time one person says to me that my book made them laugh or they're in love with Gabriel...I know it's worth it.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

1. When you think of your favorite books, what is it that draws you to them and makes you want to read them over and over again?

The depth of the characters. The emotions displayed within the pages. Sometimes even just a truly funny scene or a witty comeback line.

2. Did you consciously decide to write the genre you write, or did it choose you?

It definitely chose me. All of the genres I write in chose me. I like it that way though! ;)

3. If you could sit down for a drink and a chat with any writer, who would it be, and why?

I have become a big fan of Abbi Glines…so I’d have to go with her! I love each of her novels for different reasons. I follow her on Facebook and Twitter (sounds stalkerish, don’t you think?) and think she’d just be a blast to hang out with!

4. When you are not writing (or reading) what is your favorite pastime?

Spending time with my two kidos. I can be found having hulu-hoop contests to see who can go the longest (I’m the champ of the household BTW), drawing with sidewalk chalk, playing board games, dressing up Barbie for her date with Ken, and even helping to catch a cricket or two.

5. At what point where you sure that your book was ready to be published, and how did you go about making it happen?

I just knew. I know that’s a crappy answer, but it’s the truth. Shattered Soul was my debut novel and I just knew it was the one to put out. It was the novel in which I finally found my ‘voice’ as an author. Finding your voice is a very big thing, it helps your characters seem realistic, easier to relate to, and gives your story a level of depth. Something just clicked into place with Shattered Soul and for that I am grateful.

I attempted to query for a little while, but got no bites and absolutely no feedback. My husband bought me a kindle for Christmas in 2010 and I stumbled upon Amanda Hocking. I read a few of her books and went to her blog to learn more about her…and that was when my eyes were opened to a whole new world—Self Publishing. I read every book I could get my hands on about Self Publishing, scoured the internet, and hired myself an editor. On May 14th of 2011 I took the plunge! I don’t regret the way that I went for even a second. Becoming a Self Published/Indie Author has been, for me personally, one of the best decisions in my life. I’ve met some wonderful readers, bloggers, and absolutely amazing authors I otherwise wouldn’t have along the way. I’ve also been able to work from my home while still being there for my children during sickness and school events. THANK YOU READERS! Had to have that shout out! ;)

Author Bio:

Jennifer Snyder lives in North Carolina were she spends most of her time writing new adult and young adult fiction, reading, and struggling to stay on top of housework. She is a tea lover with an obsession for Post-it notes and smooth writing pens. Jennifer lives with her husband and two children, who endure listening to songs that spur inspiration on repeat and tolerate her love for all paranormal, teenage-targeted TV shows.

Monday, March 25, 2013

1. When you think of your favorite books, what is it that draws you to them and makes you want to read them over and over again?

I have always been captured by authors that make me feel. Really feel. A book that evokes strong emotions will keep me reading. I may not even like the outcome, but will still love the book because of the emotional escapades I encountered. Making me feel is the definite key.

2. Did you consciously decide to write the genre you write, or did it choose you?

Almost all my books come to me in dreams, so I would say that the current genre I write in chose me, which is paranormal romance. I find it interesting that this year it will change. I have a couple of books that will be out in the next few months, but later this year I have a contemporary romance that is calling to me.

3. If you could sit down for a drink and a chat with any writer, who would it be, and why?

Edgar Allen Poe. He was able to capture so much into so few words that I would love to chat with him and find out anything I could about his writing.

4. When you are not writing (or reading) what is your favorite pastime?

Walking barefoot through haunted hotels, okay, that is not a pastime but I did do that last weekend. I would say that getting into nature, usually mountain biking or hiking with my family is how I spend my off time.

5. At what point were you sure that your book was ready to be published, and how did you go about making it happen?

I never think my books are totally 100% ready. I always feel that I can improve them somehow, but if I didn’t bite the bullet then I would not have published. I am an Indie Author. I do it all myself, from writing, editing, formatting, creating my book covers, and promoting. I publish on Amazon and CreateSpace for the printed version. I sometimes also publish on Smashwords so that my distribution gets more exposure on sites like Barnes and Nobles, Sony, and many others. It is a full time job, but I still do it all in PJ’s and love it!

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Happy Sunday! Time for another Indie-licious Blog Hop. I'm going to give you another snippet from my current WIP, tentatively titled:Indelible (Thanks to Christie Rich for the suggestion).
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the title, and the teaser!

Judd's POV

I pushed through my last set, grunting as I lifted the weights over my head. Tuck, the guy I worked out with every morning, and one guys on the team that I was cool with, spotted me from above.

“How was the bar Saturday night?” Tuck asked as I struggled to catch my breath.

I swigged some water and wiped the sweat from my brow before answering. “Alright,” I responded. “Caught a couple good games.”

Tuck was the blonde All-American preppy type, but I didn’t hold it against him. He was quick on third and could run faster than most, plus he was always up for a good time.

“Any hot chicks?” He asked, positioning himself on the bench.

“There was one that had a great ass, but nothin’ much happened there” I said, drinking more water to try and sooth my burning throat.

“Couldn’t close?” Tuck mocked with a raised eyebrow and a shit-eating grin.

“Shit,” I grinned back at him. “I can close any day of the week. I was just laying the groundwork.”

Saturday, March 23, 2013

It's time for the giant March giveaway!!!

Score!!!

Andrea Heltsley has some awesome prizes in this giveaway. She is offering signed books for two lucky winners and tons of awesome swag!!! Some of the swag is even signed by your favorite authors! This is your chance to land stuff from some of the best indie authors in the industry!

Sheri Fink is a #1 international best-selling, award-winning children’s author, the creator of “The Whimsical World of Sheri Fink” children’s brand, and an international speaker. She writes books that inspire and delight children while planting the seeds of self-esteem that can have lifelong benefit. Her books, The Little Rose, The Little Gnome, Exploring the Garden with the Little Rose, and The Little Firefly are all Amazon best-sellers.

1. When you think of your favorite books, what is it that draws you to them and makes you want to read them over and over again?

I love books that immediately immerse me into their worlds and won’t let me go … the kind of books that you don’t even want to put down to go to the bathroom. For me, it’s a combination of the storytelling style, compelling characters, and interesting plots.

2. Did you consciously decide to write the genre you write, or did it choose you?

When I initially wrote The Little Rose, I didn’t know what it was. It just flowed through me at a time when I most needed its message. It wasn’t until a year later that I realized it might be a children’s story. My genre chose me.

3. If you could sit down for a drink and a chat with any writer, who would it be, and why?

I would love to sit down with J.K. Rowling. Before I read the first Harry Potter book, it had been a long time since I stayed up all night reading a book because I just had to know what happened. I was in grad school at the time and wasn’t reading a lot of fiction for fun. I love that J.K. Rowling’s books and her characters are so full of heart. Reading her series and hearing her inspiring personal story really moved me and enabled me to see new possibilities for my writing. It would be amazing to chat with her about her creativity and her writing process.

4. When you are not writing (or reading) what is your favorite pastime?

I love spending time with friends who inspire me. I crave connection with people who are making a difference in the world. I treasure the moments I spend with them talking about our dreams, helping each other overcome limitations, and celebrating our successes.

5. At what point were you sure that your book was ready to be published, and how did you go about making it happen?

I was sure my book was ready to be published once it had been edited, read and enthusiastically approved by 20 beta readers, and felt finished. I decided to independently publish my books after asking successful authors how they did it. Two weeks after I released The Little Rose, it was a #1 best-seller on Amazon and it remained at #1 for over 60 weeks. I’m so glad that I had the courage and persistence to achieve my goal. It has truly transformed my life and I’m so grateful.

Sheri’s newest book is The Little Firefly. This is an enchanting tale about a late-blooming firefly who can’t wait to be all grown up. When all the other fireflies are glowing except for the Little Firefly, she discovers that true friends will love and support her just the way she is.

Friday, March 22, 2013

1.When you think of your favorite
books, what is it that draws you to them and makes you want to read them over
and over again?

Bailey:I love books that really draw you into that world and
makes you forget about everything else. You want to fall in love with all the
characters, even the secondary ones. The ending is very important, you have to
make sure you fit everything together, tie up all the loose ends and of course,
I love happy endings!

Ardisone:Unexpected love and intrigue. I really
enjoy reading about a girl who isn't expecting a guy to be interested in her
but then she finds out later that he is. Love it!

2.Did you consciously decide to write
the genre you write, or did it choose you?

Bailey:I have always loved fantasy. When I knew I wanted to
write a book, I definitely wanted my first one to be fantasy.

Ardisone:I consciously chose to write Young
Adult Fantasy because I think mentally I prefer to think young and immature LOL
Who wants to grow up??

3.If you could sit down for a drink and
a chat with any writer, who would it be, and why?

Bailey:If he were alive today, I would have to say J.R.R.
Tolkien. I would love to hear his thoughts about creating middle earth. He
didn’t just write a book, he created a whole world. He created past and future
stories, the history of middle earth. I would love to talk to him about his
inspiration behind his ideas.

Ardisone:Rachel Higginson, because she is my
hero. She seems like such an awesome person to get to know and have as a
friend. Also, Jane Austen because I just love all her books!

4.When you are not writing (or reading)
what is your favorite pastime?

Bailey:Watching movies, listening to music, and I am always
day-dreaming.

Ardisone:Sleeping. Or watching Lord of The Rings.
Or drawing =)

5.At what point were you sure that your
book was ready to be published, and how did you go about making it happen?

Bailey:After my sister and I completely finished writing, we
read it over and both discussed what needed to be fixed. Once we were done and
decided we were happy with it, we self published and haven’t looked back!

Ardisone:I just knew. It was time. We started
writing Sweet Oblivion in November, 2011 and then took a long break because
life got in the way. Finally, when fall 2012 came I knew it had been long
enough and it was time to step it up into high gear and get it published. We
worked non-stop to get it done and finally published on December 30th, 2012;
over a year later from when we started.

1. When you think of your favorite books, what is it that draws you to them and makes you want to read them over and over again?

The biggest draw for me is having multiple depths to the characters and the storyline. My favorite books are those I can read over and over again and still find a character trait, innuendo, or action where I go, “Huh, I never noticed that one before. It also helps me feel much more connected to the characters, and thus want to go back into “their world” over and over again.

It’s also enjoyable because I can decide how much time or emotion I want to invest in the story. Some days I can just read it as an entertaining story; while other times I can sit and ponder the deeper meaning behind the characters or their interactions.

There is also a sense of suspended disbelief that comes with it as well, because, even though you obviously know how the plot is going to turn out, you can’t help but think, “Maybe this time will be different. Maybe this time the meaner/better/other side of their nature will come through and change the outcome.”

2. Did you consciously decide to write the genre you write, or did it choose you?

The fantasy genre definitely chose me. I enjoy taking a trip into worlds that are drastically different than ours and having the ability to challenge what is considered normal. It is also fun, for me, to take all of the myths, legends, and superstitions that I run into and then morph them into reality.

I feel like fantasy stories also give people a chance to address their own feelings or struggles in a way that separates them from their situation, or allows them to step back. Maybe you are feeling powerless, so you enjoy reading a book about overcoming your (literal) inner demons; or you are feeling a strain on your relationship, so you read a story about two people who shouldn’t be together (like an incubus and an innocent girl) but who make it work.

3. If you could sit down for a drink and a chat with any writer, who would it be, and why?

Anne Bishop. Her series (Black Jewels, Ephemera, Tir Alainn) are so varied and intricate that I would love to pick her brains about the writing process and how she came up with the different themes. Whenever I read her books, I wonder what the catalyst was for the various actions or characters, and she has such intricate and poignant characters in all of her books.

I also still haven’t quite forgiven her for the tears that I have cried while reading her books, most notably Twilight’s Dawn and Shalador’s Lady. One event in Shalador’s Lady (I won’t spoil it!) touched me particularly deeply and at just the right time in life as to help me heal a deep wound that had been festering, and I want to thank her for that (while yelling at her for having it happen in the first place.)

4. When you are not writing (or reading) what is your favorite pastime?

Crocheting.
Crocheting is almost meditative for me, especially if I am making a blanket or project where I just repeat the stitch and don’t need to count. My mind can clear of all the stress from the day and just focus on the motions while getting gratification from the project. It’s also a way for me to feel connected with my daughter, as she likes to nap on the couch with her head on my lap, which forces me to sit down and take some time to do something I enjoy. If she is awake, she tries to help me crochet, which doesn’t work so well since she is still under 2 years old.

It is also a fun creative outlet for me, and issues a challenge, especially when I see an item online that I like and then try to figure out my own pattern. Making toys for my daughter is my latest obsession. She has a crocheted stuffed octopus, monkey, jellyfish (minus stinging tentacles of course ;) ) and a cat.

5. At what point were you sure that your book was ready to be published, and how did you go about making it happen?

I’m still not sure it’s finished! I have the type of personality where nothing is ever totally finished, or perfect, or just the way I want it. It’s the classic scenario of just needing one more rehearsal before a play, or one more practice before a game.
I reached the point with Lady of Steinbrekka where I just had to say, “I need to let other people have a chance to read this” and let it go. I was constantly fiddling with small word choices and realized that it was time.

I went with the self-publishing route using CreateSpace.com. It required a lot of time and energy on my part, as I had to research, and then do, all of the formatting, make cover decisions, and do all of the legal stuff to turn Lady of Steinbrekka into a real book/e-book.

Then, it was on me to do all of the marketing, monitor my social media outlets, network, and create public awareness of my books.

It was, and continues to be, hard work, but I feel it is worth it. I am able to give the reader’s a truer sense of who I am as an author, and do not have to change my stories or my characters to meet the demands of a traditional publishing company. Self-publishing is also a better fit for me, right now at least, because between my full-time job and my responsibilities as a mom don’t leave much time left to meet solid deadlines or have someone else in charge of my schedule.

Bio -

Fixing broken computers, wrangling a very spirited little toddler, and creating a world with a tyrant king, are all parts of the average day for Kristi Strong. While she has called Virginia her home for two decades, her head has rested in two countries, three states, and far too many houses to count. She was more than happy to give up her nomadic lifestyle and settle down with her husband, daughter, and the small zoo some people “pets”.

While attending James Madison University, she was given the rare opportunity to work as part of an archaeological team on a variety of dig sites in Virginia, including the homes of former Presidents,James Monroe and George Washington, civil war sites such as The Steven’s House and Fort Evan’s Mississippian Encampment, and a variety of pre-historic hunting sites and camps.

Kristi now uses her extensive studies in human cultures (aka, Anthropology degree), to create her own world in her fantasy novels, beginning with her debut novel, The Lady of Steinbrekka. First in a four part series, The Lady of Steinbrekka introduces readers to the realm of Kaldalangra as they follow the adventures of Rhea, a young woman who gets kidnapped and taken to Kaldalangra for less-than-friendly reasons. While there, readers will encounter a wide variety of characters, both good and evil, supernatural beings, and watch as Rhea struggles to choose her own destiny.

The second book in the series, Heart of Kylassame, is due to be released in the summer of 2013, with a third novel, Soul of Asimina, currently being written and scheduled for a tentative Christmas 2013 release date.

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